Welsh Government announces £24m funding to support learners who felt Covid-19 impact the most

£24m to ensure no learner left behind

The Welsh Government has today announced over £24m of additional funding to support learners who have felt the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic the most.

The funding includes:

• £7.5m to support learners in exam years
• £7m to support learners whose attendance has dropped during the pandemic
• £9.5m to support FE and Sixth Form learners with transition to the next stage of their education or career. 

£7.5m will be used to provide extra support for learners in exam years, with additional teaching time and learning resources. It will help learners to develop their skills, knowledge and confidence, as well as supporting those who feel anxious about exams. The funding will be weighted towards schools with greater numbers of learners who receive free school meals.

Over £7m will go towards supporting learners whose attendance has dropped during the pandemic. Dedicated support will be provided to support Year 11 pupils who have low attendance to complete their GCSEs or help them reach the next stage in their education or in starting a career, as well as support for pupils in other years. Funding will also be provided to support well-being and education for learners at Pupil Referrals Units.

£9.5m will be provided to further education colleges and sixth forms to support students with their transition into the next stage of their education or career and for activities such as open days and taster sessions for vocational careers.  

The Minister for Education and Welsh Language, Jeremy Miles, said:

“We have prioritised education throughout the pandemic. But we know the pandemic has inevitably caused disruption, with evidence that certain learners, including those in exam years or from lower income backgrounds, have felt the impact most severely.

“We cannot allow the pandemic to throw any young person off course. This new funding will help ensure those who have been impacted the most are given the additional support they need to progress with confidence into the next stage of their lives.

“Our national mission is to tackle the impact of poverty on educational attainment and set high standards for all. We will do everything we can to ensure that all learners are on a level playing field and are able to reach their full potential.”

£24m i sicrhau nad oes yr un dysgwr yn cael ei adael ar ôl

Heddiw, mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi cyhoeddi bod dros £24m o gyllid ychwanegol ar gael i gefnogi dysgwyr sydd wedi teimlo’r effaith fwyaf yn sgil pandemig Covid-19.

Mae’r cyllid yn cynnwys:

• £7.5m i gefnogi dysgwyr sydd mewn blwyddyn lle maent yn sefyll arholiadau
• £7m i gefnogi dysgwyr y mae eu lefelau presenoldeb wedi gostwng yn ystod y pandemig
• £9.5m i gefnogi dysgwyr addysg bellach a chweched dosbarth gyda’r cyfnod pontio i’r cam nesaf o’u addysg neu’u gyrfa

Bydd £7.5m yn cael ei ddefnyddio i ddarparu cymorth ychwanegol i ddysgwyr sydd mewn blwyddyn lle maent yn sefyll arholiadau, gydag amser addysgu ac adnoddau dysgu ychwanegol. Bydd yn helpu dysgwyr i ddatblygu’u sgiliau, eu gwybodaeth a’u hyder, yn ogystal â rhoi cefnogaeth i’r rheini sy’n bryderus am yr arholiadau. Bydd yr ysgolion hynny sydd â’r niferoedd mwyaf o ddysgwyr sy’n cael prydau ysgol am ddim yn cael eu blaenoriaethu.

Bydd dros £7m yn mynd i gefnogi dysgwyr y mae eu lefelau presenoldeb wedi gostwng yn ystod y pandemig. Bydd cymorth pwrpasol yn cael ei ddarparu i helpu disgyblion blwyddyn 11 sydd â phresenoldeb isel i gwblhau eu TGAU neu i gyrraedd y cam nesaf yn eu haddysg neu i ddechrau gyrfa, ac i gefnogi dysgwyr mewn blynyddoedd eraill. Bydd cyllid hefyd yn cael ei roi i gefnogi llesiant ac addysg i ddysgwyr mewn Unedau Cyfeirio Disgyblion.

Bydd £9.5m yn cael ei roi i golegau addysg bellach a chweched dosbarth er mwyn helpu myfyrwyr i bontio i’r cam nesaf o’u haddysg neu yrfa ac ar gyfer gweithgareddau fel sesiynau blasu gyrfaoedd galwedigaethol a diwrnodau agored.  

Dywedodd Jeremy Miles, Gweinidog y Gymraeg ac Addysg:

“Rydyn ni wedi blaenoriaethu addysg trwy gydol y pandemig. Rydyn ni’n gwybod hefyd, heb os nac oni bai, bod y pandemig wedi creu anrhefn, ac mae’r dystiolaeth yn dangos bod dysgwyr penodol, gan gynnwys dysgwyr mewn blynyddoedd sy’n sefyll arholiadau a’r rhai sy’n dod o gefndir incwm isel, wedi teimlo effaith hyn yn sylweddol.

“Ni allwn ganiatáu i’r pandemig rwystro’r un person ifanc. Bydd y cyllid newydd hwn yn sicrhau bod y dysgwyr hynny sydd wedi teimlo’r effaith fwyaf yn cael y cymorth ychwanegol sydd ei angen arnynt i gymryd y cam nesaf yn eu bywydau yn hyderus.

“Mae cenhadaeth ein cenedl yn mynd i’r afael ag effaith tlodi ar gyrhaeddiad addysgol ac mae’n gosod safonau uchel i bawb. Rydyn ni am wneud popeth o fewn ein gallu i sicrhau bod pob dysgwr yn cael yr un cyfle ac yn gallu cyrraedd eu potensial llawn.”